Barring an 11th hour deal, it appears that a U.S. government shutdown may well occur at midnight on Saturday, 30SEP. This could bring about immediate and significant disruptions for those with plans to visit the U.S. as many federal programs and agencies will be shut down.
NBC News reported, "Many federal programs and agencies will have to stop funding, and their workers will be furloughed."
Experts warn the U.S. air travel system is poised to experience overwhelming signs of stress during a federal government shutdown. This could potentially lead to longer wait times for travellers at U.S. airports or even rescheduling of flights.
In a statement, the U.S. Tour Operators Association clarified that operations at airports will continue, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees and Transport Security Administration (TSA) personnel would still be expected to report to work - without pay.
At the borders, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents at the Canada-U.S. boundary have been designated as essential personnel - so would be expected to continue work.
However, in previous shutdowns, the Washington Post reports some TSA agents were forced to take alternative jobs to pay their bills, so didn't show up to work.
According to the FAA, with 45,000 flights operating in the U.S. daily, a government shutdown could further strain already overwhelmed air traffic controllers.
As Open Jaw has reported, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces a potential double government shutdown as the deadline to renew its authorizing law overlaps with the broader federal funding extension deadline. If both lapse simultaneously, air traffic controllers and some safety inspectors would work unpaid, halting new controller training and disrupting technology upgrades. A shutdown could undermine FAA and airline progress in flight scheduling, putting added strain on air traffic controllers in an already strained aviation system.
In addition to impacts on borders and airports, for visitors who do travel in the U.S., many federal visitor centers, campgrounds, research facilities, and museums will be forced to close. Any events and attractions scheduled for these sites may also be impacted.
Travel Weekly reported that a government shutdown will not only impact the travelling public; it could cost the travel industry hundreds of millions of dollars. The U.S. Travel Association claims that the shutdown would result in losses of as much as USD $140 million a day for the U.S. travel economy, calling the disruption "an unacceptable prospect."
According to Ipsos and U.S. Travel, "six in 10 Americans would cancel or avoid trips by air in the event of a shutdown." Canadians might have similar sentiments, leading to a potential drop in Canadian tourism to the U.S.
